No DNA, No Cigars, No Berets, No Story

It's Not Sex! It's Clinton Policy, Handing Over Technology to the Chinese Military! But Networks Yawn

By

Tim Graham

October 22, 1998 - 1:00am

The networks loved Democratic Rep. Robert Wexler's floor speech against an open-ended
impeachment probe, presenting all the world's problems as overlooked because "we're
talking about Monica Lewinsky!" (MSNBC played a clip again Tuesday night, with Keith
Olbermann praising Wexler for his eloquence.) But when The New York Times
reported again on the Clinton administration's near-elimination of export controls to
China, the networks yawned again.

So far, the national
media have totally ignored Monday's front-page scoop in The New York Times
headlined "Chinese Said to Reap Gains In U.S. Export Policy Shift." (Web
browsers could not find the article on the Times home page. You had to click on
"Politics" to get it.)

Reporters Jeff Gerth and Eric Schmitt announced: "An examination by The New
York Times of the administration's export control policies on China, based on
interviews as well as government and industry documents, shows that the looser regulations
enabled Chinese companies to obtain a wide range of sophisticated technology, some of
which has already been diverted for military uses."

Gerth and Schmitt tied the real-world dangers of Chinese technology acquisition to
Clinton's anything-goes fundraising tactics. After hearing complaints from Silicon Valley
executives, "the President delivered, personally presiding over what industry
executives and government officials agree was one of the most sweeping relaxations of
export restrictions in American history...In the years that followed, the new rules helped
Clinton fulfill his vision of a centrist Demo- cratic Party with close ties to American
business. Grateful high-technology companies showered the Democratic Party with campaign
contributions, cementing a new financial base for a party that has historically struggled
to raise money from corporate America."

What was going on in the world Monday that the networks had no time for Clinton aiding
China's military? In the morning, ABC found Westminster Abbey is selling chairs used at
Diana's funeral. CBS found a teen trying to build a nuclear reactor. NBC interviewed
British CEO Richard Branson on his book Losing My Virginity.

That night, ABC showed that 100 pilot whales died after beaching themselves in
Tasmania. CBS noted arson is suspected in a ski resort fire in Vail, Colorado. CNN relayed
that five more victims were pulled from the wreckage of a train crash in Egypt. NBC
covered the Kroger supermarket chain's latest acquisition.

The networks haven't
aired a single story on Clinton's export-control repeal since June. Since the Times broke
the story in April, the breakdown of evening news stories is: ABC 7, CBS 3, CNN 3, NBC 2.
Even in the missile story's brief heyday in late May and early June, Monica stories
outnumbered it on TV morning and evening shows 78 to 21. Is it any wonder the public
believes that Clinton scandals are mostly about sex? - Tim Graham

Federal employees and military personnel can donate to the Media Research Center through the Combined Federal Campaign or CFC. To donate to the MRC, use CFC #12489. Visit the CFC website for more information about giving opportunities in your workplace.